Yocum Dog Training

07/03/2025

That jealous behavior? It’s not cute. It’s competition.

When your dog pushes between you and your partner…
Blocks another pet from getting affection or interjects themselves when you’re giving another pet affection…
Squeezes onto your lap every time someone gets near…

It’s not about love.
It’s not about “protecting” you.
It’s about demanding/claiming your attention, your touch, your presence.

And when we allow it, or worse, encourage it, we’re telling the dog:
“This attention is something you have to take. Something you might lose if you dont.”

That mindset creates problems.
Dogs that guard people.
Dogs that compete for affection.
Dogs that don’t know how to exist around others without getting tense, pushy, or anxious.

Even if it never turns into a fight,
it’s still not peace.

What starts out looking cute can quietly become a pattern of control.
The dog isn’t asking for love …they’re demanding it.
And when left unchecked, it creates:

🐾 Tension between pets
🐾 Guarding of people or space
🐾 Chronic low-level arousal and stress
🐾 A dog that never fully relaxes unless they’re in charge of the moment

So what do we do instead?

✅ Interrupt the behavior. Don’t let your dog wedge in or push others away
✅ Hold the space. You’re allowed to have moments that don’t involve your dog
✅ Reward calm neutrality, not demand for attention
✅ Create structure. Assigned spaces, clear rituals, and emotional clarity help dogs feel safe
✅ Be a calm, confident leader. That’s what creates real emotional security

Your dog doesn’t need more affection.
They need better boundaries around affection.

Because dogs don’t just want love…
They want to feel safe in it.
And safety doesn’t come from control.
It comes from leadership.

You don’t fix jealousy by giving more.
You fix it by giving better.

07/02/2025

What is a dog?
It’s a question I’ve been chasing since I could read.

I memorized the breed encyclopedia as a kid. Not because someone told me to, but because I needed to understand them. I’ve spent my life watching dogs. Not just teaching them. Not just loving them. Studying them. Observing behavior. Reading their cues. Digging into the ethology, the psychology, the instinct, and the soul of the animal behind the label.

And the deeper I went, the more clear it became:
Dogs were never meant to live the way we ask them to live.

They are captive predators.
Sensory-driven, movement-based, socially complex beings.
Yet we keep them confined, overstimulated, underfulfilled, and often misunderstood.

We say we love them. But love without understanding is shallow.
Love without honoring the being in front of us is incomplete.

Bridging the gap between who they are and the life we’ve placed them in isn’t just about helping them “cope” in our world.
It’s about returning something to them.
Purpose. Clarity. Structure. Peace.
It’s about choosing to honor the dog, not just the pet.

This has never been about obedience for me. It’s about respect.
For the mind, the emotions, and the instincts that still live inside every dog, no matter how soft or shaped or modern they look on the outside.

That question still drives me.
What is a dog?

And more importantly what does it look like to finally start giving that answer the respect it deserves?

06/27/2025

You’re not inconsistent.
You’re just consistent with the wrong things.

Most people don’t realize this. They say they struggle with consistency, but really, they’re being consistent every single day.

Consistently letting the dog follow them room to room.
Consistently giving attention when the dog demands it.
Consistently skipping structure when they’re tired.
Consistently repeating commands instead of following through.

All of that is consistency.
It’s just not the kind that helps your dog grow.

Repetition builds habits. For your dog. For you.
Every time a behavior happens, it wires a little deeper.
Every time you react the same way, your brain takes the path it already knows.

That’s how habits form. That’s how routines get locked in.
So the real question isn’t “Can I be more consistent?”
It’s “What am I already teaching, without realizing it?”

Training isn’t about adding 10 new things to your plate.
It’s about shifting your habits to work for you, not against you.

Small shifts. Big impact.

06/25/2025

Play With Purpose

What you saw in the video wasn’t just fetch.
It was a pause. A sit. Sometimes a stay.
A moment of calm before the chase.

That’s not just training. That’s teaching the brain how to shift gears.

Because when dogs stay in high arousal all the time, their nervous system gets stuck there. They rehearse chaos. They crave intensity. And they never learn how to come down.

That’s where the pause comes in.

It creates a habit:
Excitement → pause → focus → reward.
It builds emotional regulation.
It teaches patience, control, and connection, even in high drive.

And if you’re someone with a full schedule who struggles to find time to train, this is it.
You’re already playing with your dog.
Add a little challenge before the fun and you’re building better behavior in the moments you already have.

The real power of play isn’t in the ball.
It’s in what happens before the throw.

Obedience becomes part of the game.
And play becomes the tool that transforms everything else.

Check out Amanda Caroline’s video.

06/20/2025

Most dogs aren’t failing training.
They’re stuck with people who won’t change.

You want your dog to stop pulling?
To stop barking?
To stop pacing or lunging or ignoring you?

Start by looking in the mirror.

Change how you show up.
Change what you allow.
Change what you reinforce without even realizing it.
Change the story you keep telling yourself about your dog.

Your dog doesn’t need perfection.
They need you to step up.

The leash isn’t just attached to your dog…it’s connected to your habits, your mindset, and your energy.

Training isn’t about fixing them.
It’s about becoming someone they want to follow.

— Amanda
Yocum Dog Training

06/18/2025

This might get me some backlash - but I have strong opinion about the pet industry as a whole and why i believe there are big pushes for positive reinforcement only agenda.

The pet industry made over 150 billion dollars last year in the US alone.
And somehow, dogs are more anxious, reactive, and unstable than ever.

We’ve got puzzle toys, snuffle mats, calming chews, treat subscriptions, training apps, playlists, and now even meds for anxiety
And still… people are struggling.

Why?
Because none of that fixes the actual problem.

The industry doesn’t want your dog balanced.
They want them dependent.
They want them humanized.
Because that sells better.

Confused dog? Buy more.
Overstimulated dog? Buy more.
Anxious dog? Here’s a pill.

Big Pharma saw the money and jumped right in.
After COVID, prescriptions for dog anxiety exploded, not because dogs changed, but because people did.

We’re more disconnected from each other than ever.
No community. No real support.
So we dump all our affection into dogs… and ignore their instincts in the process.

And when that doesn’t work?
People get rid of the dog.
Shelters stay full.

Here’s the part no one selling you stuff wants to admit:

• No toy replaces movement
• No puzzle replaces leadership
• No pill fixes what unmet needs create
• No treat substitutes for structure
• No product fills the void of real connection

You can’t buy your way to a balanced dog.
Enrichment helps. Tools help.
Sometimes meds help.
But they don’t replace structure, fulfillment, or leadership.

Your dog doesn’t need more stuff.
They need more of you.

That’s the part no one’s making money off…so they don’t talk about it.
But I will.

06/13/2025

There is a huge divide within the dog training community and the owners are paying the price.
We all have our own methods and philosophies; some trainers seek a more natural approach, some strictly use e collars, and other strictly R+ methods. You’ll see a lot of trainers reference a study from 2014 to “prove” that e collars are not effective and further on that are harmful to your dog. As a trainer who doesn’t use e collars, not because I find them to cause harm, but because I prefer my approach and methodology. Here are my thoughts on this study that is widely referenced and used to push an agenda to ban tools in the US

Why the Cooper et al. (2014) E-Collar Study Falls Short

The 2014 study by Cooper et al., often cited to condemn e-collar use, is widely shared—but its design does not support the strong conclusions people pull from it. Even for trainers who don’t use e-collars, it’s important to recognize when a study lacks scientific weight.

1. Too few dogs

The study only included 63 dogs across three groups. That’s not nearly enough to make reliable claims about behavior, learning, or welfare across a general dog population.

2. Different trainers across groups

The e-collar groups were trained by ECMA-certified trainers. The reward-based group had entirely different trainers using a different methodology. That’s not a tool comparison. That’s comparing philosophies, timing, pressure, and handler skill.

3. No matching of behavioral severity

Dogs weren’t matched based on drive, behavioral intensity, or problem severity. That skews results. One group may have had dogs with easier cases, affecting stress levels and success rates.

4. Short duration and limited tasks

Training was done over a brief period with simple obedience tasks. The study did not evaluate tools in high-stakes scenarios like prey drive, aggression, or complex behavioral rehab. The real-world relevance is limited.

5. Stress signs were taken out of context

Lip licking, yawning, vocalizing, and elevated cortisol can happen in any training, even reward-based. These signs also appear during learning or excitement. Without context, they don’t prove distress.

6. Overstated conclusions

The claim that e-collars cause welfare risks and offer no added benefit is not supported by the data. The sample was too small, the context too narrow, and the comparisons too inconsistent.

Bottom line:
This study does not fairly represent e-collar use or its outcomes. We need well-controlled, unbiased research to make valid claims. This was not it.

06/05/2025

Can your dog manipulate you? Yes, they’re social animals, but it might not be what you think.
So what is it in dog behavior and why does it occur?

Dogs are social animals and fast learners.
They notice what works.

If whining gets the leash pressure to stop…
If a dramatic flop gets them picked up…
If avoiding place earns affection instead…
They’ll use it again.

That’s emotional manipulation.
Not in a human, sneaky way.
In a very canine, adaptive way.

It’s not about being mean or spiteful.
It’s about getting a result.

What It Looks Like
• Rolling over or whining to avoid leash pressure
• Suddenly becoming “helpless” when structure is enforced
• Selectively listening when rewards are visible
• Barking or pawing for attention
• Shutting down when denied access or control

Puppies show it early. One of the clearest examples?

A young puppy tries to steal a toy from an adult dog.
The adult growls or corrects them.
The puppy rolls over and licks the adult’s mouth, classic submission.
Then sneaks right back in and steals the toy anyway.

That’s not fear.
That’s negotiation.

Why This Matters

If we misread these behaviors as fear or sadness, we soften.
We coax. We bribe. We release the pressure.
The dog learns one thing, act upset, and you win.

And now we’ve reinforced the exact behavior we’re trying to change.

What To Do Instead

• Stay calm and neutral
• Don’t reward emotion with release
• Ignore attention-seeking behaviors
• Hold space until the dog settles
• Follow through, every time

You’re not being harsh.
You’re being clear.

Dogs aren’t emotionally fragile.
They’re emotionally responsive.
And they’re always learning.

06/04/2025

🧠 Science Fun Fact: Not all dog brains are the same

A new study just confirmed what a lot of dog enthusiasts already know. Different breeds don’t just act differently. Their brains are built differently.

🐶 Modern dogs like Labs, Border Collies, and Shepherds have a larger cerebral cortex. That part of the brain helps with learning, movement, and working closely with people. These dogs were bred to focus, repeat tasks, and power through intensity.

But a bigger cortex doesn’t always mean more control. Many modern dogs were bred to push through fear and discomfort, and even to want to. Herding dogs that keep working after being kicked. Hounds that chase through exhaustion. Bait dogs that get hurt and keep going. That is not calm. That is drive without self-preservation.

🐕 Pre-modern dogs like Chows, Huskies, Akitas, and Afghan Hounds have a more developed amygdala, the part of the brain tied to fear processing, risk evaluation, and self-preservation. These dogs were not shaped for obedience. They were shaped to survive, think independently, and assess the world around them with instinctive discernment.

Our modern dog culture doesn’t always understand these dogs, and modern life rarely allows for the kind of discernment they were built to use.

The difference is simple.
One was developed to do. The other developed to decide.

Your dog’s behavior is not random. It is rooted in instinct, structure, and history.

🧬
Study credit:
Barton, S.A., Smaers, J.B., Serpell, J.A., & Hecht, E.E. (2025).
Brain-behavior differences in pre-modern and modern lineages of domestic dogs
Journal of Neuroscience, May 2025

05/27/2025

A lot of dogs show territorial behavior, but very few owners take the time to refine it.

Barking at the window, rushing the door, reacting to every person or car outside might seem like your dog is doing their job. But often, it’s not what it looks like. In many cases, it’s not confidence or protectiveness at all—it’s frustration, anxiety, or arousal that’s been building up over time. That’s a whole can of worms for another post, but it’s important to understand that this behavior isn’t always coming from a healthy or stable mindset.

What dogs are really practicing in those moments is how to make decisions without you. And just as important—they’re also rehearsing an aroused, reactive state of mind. Every time they get worked up and no one steps in, they’re reinforcing that heightened energy as normal. That makes it harder for them to settle, listen, or make sound choices later on.

I’m not saying dogs can’t bark or let you know someone is there. At my house, mine are allowed to alert me. But after that, it’s my job to take over. When someone knocks, I step in front of my dogs and move them back into a calm mindset. I answer the door, I talk to the person, and I decide what happens next.

That’s structure. That’s leadership. And that’s how you build trust.

Especially with guardian breeds, this isn’t optional. These dogs were bred to act. But if we don’t teach them when to act and when to step aside, we end up with a powerful dog making serious decisions with no off switch.

Unchecked protection drive isn’t loyalty. It’s a liability.

If your dog is a liability the time to act is now, not after your dog bites someone. Call, text, or private message to schedule your free consult.

05/26/2025

Reinforcement doesn’t just shape dogs, it shapes us too. The more we justify, excuse, or avoid change, the more likely we are to repeat the same patterns. Behavior goes both ways.

05/25/2025

“She’s better for the trainer than for me.”

That’s not because your dog is smarter than you think.
It’s because your dog feels more than you realize.

With the trainer, your dog gets structure, repetition, clarity, and neutrality.
They aren’t practicing power struggles, confusion, or overstimulation. They’re just practicing behavior. The trainer becomes associated with calm, direction, and follow-through. That’s what your dog expects, so that’s how they behave.

But when you step in?
You bring history. Emotion. Rehearsed habits.
Your presence cues more than just commands, it cues a feeling. And your dog has been practicing what it feels like to live around you.

So when you show up, they might feel:
• Uncertainty because you’ve been inconsistent.
• Frustration because they’re used to controlling the outcome.
• Excitement because you’ve only engaged when they’re amped.
• Pushback because you haven’t followed through.

That’s not behavior in isolation. That’s conditioned emotional response.
Your dog isn’t ignoring you to be defiant.
They’re responding to how they feel when you’re around because that’s what you’ve unknowingly rehearsed together.

This is why things shift with a trainer. The trainer doesn’t come with emotional baggage or inconsistent energy. They come with intention. And the dog responds in kind.

But here’s the good news:
You can shift the pattern. You can change how your dog feels around you.
It takes more than teaching commands, it takes rebuilding the emotional framework they associate with your presence.

Less talking. More follow-through.
Less indulgence. More leadership.
Less emotional reaction. More calm direction.

They don’t need a firmer hand, they need a clearer presence.

And once that changes, so will everything else.